Arches National Park

[cats4jan]

Worked and re-worked this one. 
It's probably busier than most of my stuff, but it seemed unfinished before I 'played'

Anatomy of my scrapbook page:

No template used, but I got inspiration from a scraplift -
which I would love to show you, but I do not have permission to post her layout.

- Couldn't decide between a deer or a wolf.
Tried using both, but that seemed off.  Chose deer - seemed more natural in this setting.
Wish I could've found a boulder for the deer to sit on, because he looks like he's floating 

- I manipulated the reeds - I used the Move Tool and pulled sideways to fill more of the space - then lightened it

- The plaque behind the text was a square.  Again, used the Move Tool. 
Turned it into a rectangle by squeezing up from the bottom, then pulling at the side to make it wider.

- Didn't like the color of the sky, so I trimmed the photo - moved the park plaque further down to minimize the sky. 
There are two layers of the photo - top one masked, bottom one has the opacity changed -
thus letting background blend with the photo.  Layer style added to bottom photo.

Background is two papers, one on top of the other - used blend mode "multiply"

- Title is two layers of text - one brown, one black - one layer moved over and down a couple of pixels to give depth. 
I tried achieving this look with a layer style, but duplicate text worked better.
I do not usually use capital letters in my titles - I just don't like one word capitalized while the others are not
I break this rule when there is a proper noun in the title - Being an ex-secretary, I just can't leave a proper noun un-capitalized 

Photo by Linda C - used with permission
Kit: Rosie's Designs - Rosie hand paints the items in her kits - she does beautiful work, doesn't she
Arches National Park - Utah (although I probably should've used one of the photos with actual arches, I love this photo)

[Lillias]

I like both these pages Janice. Nice masking and framing of the photo. Interesting explanation of how you used two layers of the photo.
The deer doesn’t look as if he is floating to me but if you go to Hiclipart you will find a good selection of boulders from which to choose should you really want one.

[cats4jan]

Thanks, Lillias. There is really a great selection of boulders there. But, in looking at the layout again, I can almost see a perspective aspect to where he is sitting and maybe you are right. He isn’t floating after all.  

[pontiac1940]

Sept 21, 2023 7:03:28 GMT cats4jan said:

  Chose deer - seemed more natural in this setting.

Janice, 
I love the layout and tones which are fitting for the arid region. 
This is me being fussy. That stag deer is definitely not a native North American deer and seems to be a European fallow deer. Arches has mule deer. You can likely find a mule buck photo online. I have hundreds of them although most are in cropland vs native grasslands. 
Clive 

[cats4jan]

Clive - thanks for that info. That deer is from a scrapbook kit, drawn by the artist. Don’t know what kind of deer she was going for - just know she sure knows how to draw/paint

[pontiac1940]

Sept 21, 2023 14:32:34 GMT cats4jan said:

That deer is from a scrapbook kit, drawn by the artist. Don’t know what kind of deer she was going for - just know she sure knows how to draw/paint

Thanks. Yes, a lovely painting. 

[jackscrap]

As always I enjoy reading your thought processes. I would need to tape myself so I could then listen back to figure out what I'd done and what I'd rejected.
It's the earthy tones and colours in this layout that appeals to me, deer or wolf, either look good, but I do love that little chipmunk?